Contact: Adam Veri, publicist
Phone (Office): (519) 582-0881
Phone (Cell): (289) 339-8850
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

For Immediate Release

Lighthouse Theatre hosts African Guitar Summit fundraiser for Rwanda Education and Discovery
Project (READ)

January 6, 2012, Port Dover – A committed group of Norfolk County volunteers called the Rwanda
Education and Discovery (READ) Committee is bringing Juno Award-winning group African Guitar
Summit to Lighthouse Festival Theatre to help raise funds for the Vunga Vocational Training Centre
in Rwanda. This four-year-old school initiative aims to train young Rwandans in a range of trades and
skills to give young people a means to make a living, to be self-sustaining and to contribute within their
community and country.

In the wake of the 1994 nationwide genocide, Rwanda was left without professional resources and
physical infrastructure. Since Vunga village is so remote, the impact on the community and its young
people was more severe. In 2006, while visiting Rwanda a small team from Ontario was made aware
of the need for a school in this area. After visiting the proposed school site, they returned to Canada,
formed a committee, and started raising the required funds.

The school began with five classrooms and an administration room. There is now a carpentry building,
a cafeteria/library/meeting hall, out buildings for equipment, and a small student residence. Part of
the school’s sustainability plans include selling the goods that students make or grow, accommodating
paying students from a distance, and renting the meeting hall for special events. In 2010, the training
centre celebrated its first crop of new graduates; 89 young men and women graduated. All the 2010
graduates are currently employed, as are many from the 2011 graduating class.

Students provide assistance to those in need within their community by repairing dilapidating houses,
tending to gardens of the elderly or ill and supplying help where needed. The citizens of Vunga have
benefitted in other ways as well. Before the school was built, the village didn’t have easy access to
water, but because of the school’s importance, local government has provided pipelines with access
points for the community and the school use. Most recently, Vunga reports electricity is expected this
spring.

The READ committee includes Bob Easton (chair), Peter Post, Deb Hoskins, Tony Bouwmeester,
Marianne Bouwmeester, Clarence Finch, and JoAnne Easton, all Norfolk County residents.

Committee member JoAnne Easton says that despite the exceptional achievements thus far, there’s
still a long way to go. “During the genocide, most of the professionals were wiped out. There’s been a
gap there for a generation and we’re doing our best to help by supporting educational projects for their
youth which gives hope for the individual, as well as the community,” Easton explained. “The students
are eager to learn and are so appreciative of their opportunities.”

The retired former OPG nurse says that encouraging safety is also a priority. “Most of them have
absolutely no concept of workplace safety. We gave them eye protection for the carpentry and

welding classes, and they were baffled. We eventually got them to say ‘safety first,’ which was a big
achievement, but a lot of education is still required.”

Despite being a retiree, Easton says working on behalf of the school keeps her very busy. “It’s a full-time
job for sure,” Easton admits. “I’m often at the computer literally all day working on the website or the
sponsorship program, or I’m on the phone promoting the project in some manner. It’s a lot of work,
but we’re trying to make a difference and we’re getting there. We have funding partners in Ireland and
Holland now, which makes this a multi-national effort. We have no intentions of slowing down.”

The READ committee hopes that the concert at Lighthouse Festival Theatre raises a significant amount
of money for the training centre. African Guitar Summit is a group of nine Canadian musicians of
African origin who first came together to participate in a unique project for CBC Radio’s On Stage
program. In just three days they created a band, composed arrangements, and shared their stories and
experiences with each other. On the fourth day the group debuted in a concert at Glenn Gould Studio.
The following three days were spent in CBC Studio 211 recording a self-titled CD Live Off the Floor.

Each musician brings a distinct cultural background to the group. African Guitar Summit features, from
Guinea, Juno Award winner Alpha YaYa Diallo, with his countryman Naby Camara on balafon (think
wooden xylophone); from Ghana, the elder master of the guitar, Pa Joe, “golden voice” Theo Boakye,
and drummer Kofi Ackah; from Kenya, the Fiesta guitar of Professor Adam Solomon; from Burundi/
Rwanda, the bluesy Mighty Popo; and from Madagascar, guitarists Donne Roberts and multiple Juno
Award winner Madagascar Slim. Their debut CD African Guitar Summit was honoured with a Juno
as World Music Album of the Year in 2005. Their second album, African Guitar Summit II, received a
nomination in the same category in 2007.

African Guitar Summit is presented live on Saturday, February 18 beginning at 8:00 pm. Tickets are
$30 and are available now by calling the Lighthouse Festival Theatre box office at (519) 583-2221 or
online at lighthousetheatre.com. A reception and meet-and-greet with the musicians will follow the
show. Anyone interested in making a donation to the Vunga Vocational Training Centre in Rwanda can
do so online at www.readproject.com. African Guitar Summit is presented by CIBC Wood Gundy, with
additional support provided by Lighthouse Festival Theatre and Barber & Veri Inc.

-30-

Contact: Adam Veri, Publicist

Phone (Office): (519) 582-0881 (Cell): (289) 339-8850

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

For Immediate Release

Lighthouse Festival Theatre announces auditions for two community shows

January 13, 2012, Port Dover – As part of its ongoing commitment engage the community and bring theatre to wider audience, Lighthouse Festival Theatre has announced auditions for two community-based productions.

For its second annual community show, LFT will produce Move Over Mrs. Markham, a classic British farce by Ray Cooney and John Chapman. The play follows the twists and turns of several would-be amorous scandals that are repeatedly delayed through mishaps, botched cover-ups, and personality clashes between characters. LFT Artistic Director Derek Ritschel is directing the show.

Auditions for the nine roles (five female, four male) are scheduled for January 21 and 22 from 1:00- 4:00 pm. Ages of the characters range from their early twenties to early fifties. Performance dates are set for May 3 - 5. Rehearsals will take place Sunday afternoons and Monday and Thursday evenings, though not everyone will be called every night. Auditions will be held on a first come, first served basis. Sides will be provided.

Ritschel is looking forward to building on the success of the theatre’s 2011 community theatre hit Rumours. “I was so impressed by the talent and dedication of our performers last year, and I’m so pleased to offer this opportunity to our exceptional local theatre artists,” he explained. “This script is hilarious and we’re going to leave the audience in stitches.”

On January 25, from 6:30 – 9:30 pm the theatre will host a meet and greet and greet and sign-up session for Senior Moments, an innovative production about seniors and aging. LFT is partnering with the Haldimand & Norfolk Seniors Partnership and the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program, donating space for rehearsals and a venue for the finished production.

Theatre professional Vinetta Strombergs of Normandale will facilitate the production. No previous experience is required as long as participants enjoy working with others and are willing to learn new skills. Although the plays will focus on seniors and aging, performers of all ages are welcome and needed. Participants must be available for three or four evening and weekend rehearsals per week throughout February and early March. The performances will be scheduled for the end of March. More information on rehearsal schedules will be made available at the sign-up session.

Skit development will be an interactive process, and will include lessons on improv and Forum Theatre techniques, which provide actors with the skills they need to create original stories that are relevant to their community. Strombergs has 40 years of professional theatre experience, and has taught a range of theatre performance techniques at Sheridan College, the University of Toronto, Humber College, George Brown, and the University of Windsor. She has also taught community theatre workshops throughout the province for both adults and teens, and Theatre Ontario Youth Summer Courses.

For more information on either Move Over Mrs. Markham or Senior Moments, please contact Lighthouse Festival Theatre publicist Adam Veri at (289) 339-8850 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

-30-